News & Advocacy - In category Advocacy

Category: Advocacy

The cost of dignity: Supporting those who die with nothing

New Zealand funeral directors are absorbing thousands of dollars in costs to ensure people who die with no money or family still receive a dignified funeral.

Posted in All, In the News , Advocacy; Posted 26 days ago Less than a minute to read

WINZ Funeral Grant processes compound grief and stress for families

Funeral Directors Association CEO, Gillian Boyes says inconsistent and confusing administration of the WINZ Funeral Grant is adding unnecessary stress for grieving families, while the grant itself remains woefully inadequate to meet reasonable funeral costs.

Posted in All, Opinion, Advocacy; Posted 29 days ago by Gillian Boyes Less than a minute to read

A question of fairness for bereaved families

A powerful call for fairer funeral assistance for bereaved families, highlighting the significant gap in support depending on how a child dies and the need to ensure every family can farewell their child with dignity.

Posted in All, Advocacy, Opinion; Posted 30 days ago Less than a minute to read

Election 2026 Manifesto

Every New Zealander deserves dignity in death. Yet the systems New Zealand relies on when somebody dies have not kept up with the country we have become. We are calling on the next Government to make funeral support fit for today, modernise New Zealand’s death-care laws and protect families through trusted funeral care. Because a farewell is more than a transaction. Saying goodbye matters.

Posted in All, Advocacy; Posted 59 days ago Less than a minute to read

Grief education in schools submissions

The Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand is pleased to support two submissions to the review of the Health and Education curriculum. While each takes a different approach, both are grounded in ensuring children and their teachers are better equipped to deal with grief.

Posted in All, Advocacy; Posted 6 months ago Less than a minute to read

Fuel prioritisation submission to MBIE

We have written to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on behalf of our members, providing feedback on the proposed fuel prioritisation bands. Our submission highlights the ess…

Posted in Advocacy, All; Posted 7 months ago by Gillian Boyes Less than a minute to read

Health Select Committee presentation

Andrew Malcolm, President of the Funeral Directors Association, and CEO Gillian Boyes, presented to the Health Select Committee. This meeting offered a vital platform to address claims made by Death without Debt and to share insights on areas we believe require thoughtful consideration for better deathcare outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Posted in Advocacy, All; Posted 24 months ago Less than a minute to read

Briefing for Incoming Minister - Louise Upston, Minister of Social Development and Employment

We all die. But death shouldn’t have to lead to poor mental health outcomes or debt for those left behind. We have ideas about how this Government could show a human face on death in a containable way in terms of fiscal risk.

Posted in Advocacy, All; Posted 3 years ago Less than a minute to read

Why aren't politicians facing the other big inevitable topic?

Taxes are getting a lot of focus in this year’s election. But that other big inevitable, death, remains the topic MPs seem steadfastly keen to ignore.

Posted in Advocacy, All; Posted 3 years ago Less than a minute to read